"I think there's going to be a lot of interest," he said. "This is a difficult set of issues that don't just worry people — they also take lives."

The meeting will be held in the Bell Memorial Union Auditorium, which can accommodate several hundred people.

By Wednesday morning, 57 people had signed up to attend, Wills said. He added it's hoped that in addition to young people and the general public, participants will represent many fields, such as public schools, law enforcement, health care, property management, and alcohol and drug counseling.

The meeting is being designed so that participants' interests will help set the agenda, he said.

People will be able to express their concerns, and if others are interested in those same issues, groups will form to discuss them, he said. The results of those discussions will be shared with the group as a whole.

Responding to an email, Chico State's vice president for student affairs, Drew Calandrella wrote that the Feb. 22 meeting is envisioned as "beginning a community-wide conversation."

Before the close of the meeting, "attendees will be asked to commit to work with a group focused on particular recommendations if they are interested in committing more time," he wrote.

People who want to attend the meeting are being asked to register in advance. They can do so by calling 898-6131 or going to the Chico State website at www.csuchico.edu.

The meeting will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch will be provided.

"I think it is important to note that the session will not be pointing fingers or demonizing any particular group," Calandrella wrote. "Attendees will be focusing on generating recommendations and solutions."

Staff writer Larry Mitchell can be reached at 896-7759, lmitchell@chicoer.com, or on Twitter @LarryMitchell7.